Many NHL teams talked this summer about how they could use the kind of pepper that free agent Steve Ott brings to the table.

But he’s not leaving the shadow of the Gateway Arch. Unlike goalie Ryan Miller, who also joined the St. Louis Blues from the struggling Buffalo Sabres and then headed to greener pastures with Vancouver, Ott was re-signed on Thursday for two years at $5.2 million US.

The scrappy Ott’s return had much to do with the anticipated departure of forward Vladimir Sobotka to the KHL.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that, when he “got that information, I circled back with other players that we were talking to — Steve Ott being one — and we came to a conclusion with Steve.”

Ott played 23 games with the Blues after the trade and though his offensive numbers were down a bit from years past and the club was a surprise playoff flop, the former Sabres captain brought a lot of the in-your-face game that the Blues need to survive long-term in an unforgiving Western Conference.

KANE COOLING HIS JETS?

The discomfort level between the Winnipeg Jets and forward Evander Kane does not appear to be changing for the better.

While the fourth pick overall in 2009 remains as talented as many selected in that draft class, the team’s inability to improve itself since leaving Atlanta and Kane’s distracting episodes off the ice continue to cloud the future.

His most recent comments to a radio station in his hometown of Vancouver did nothing for clarity regarding where he wants to be as he starts a new season, with a raise to $6 million in salary.

“Well, I think I’m a Winnipeg Jet right now,” Kane said. “And, you know, there’s been speculation and rumours the three years since I got there. So, you know, we’ll see what happens and we’ll carry on as if I’m a Jet.”

There is the perception that Kane thinks he is too big for a small-market team such as Winnipeg, but management has thus far stickhandled around questions if he has asked or a trade or if they’ve considered initiating such a move.

Commenting on players who have come through Winnipeg in the days of the original Jets, veteran Dale Hawerchuk told the Winnipeg Sun:

“I loved coming here as an 18-year-old. There was nothing better than knowing as an NHL player here, no matter where you walked in this city, people are going to know who you are.

“So you’d better be proud of your accomplishments. That should push people.

“As an organization, you do your best to get your players to love it. My short time being around (today’s Jets), they do everything first-class. So, I don’t know why players wouldn’t love it.”

BERARD IN LEGAL TUSSLE

Bryan Berard’s comeback attempt from a severe eye injury is now the focus of a civil suit in Manhattan.

The flashy defenceman suffered a retinal tear and detachment in his right eye in March of 2000 as a Maple Leaf, when accidentally clipped by the stick of Ottawa Senators forward Marian Hossa. After seven operations and the introduction of a special contact lens, Berard reached the NHL’s minimal vision requirement of 20/400 and was able to renew his career with the New York Rangers in the autumn of 2001. He played parts of seven more seasons with the Rangers, Islanders, Blue Jackets and a KHL team.

But the New York Post reported Thursday there is a legal storm regarding the $6 million Berard received as an insurance settlement from Standard Security Life during his inactive period. He returned the money, according to Standard, when he resumed playing, but last year he initiated action to get back $18 million in benefits, interest and penalties he says he is owed. Berard is alleging Standard’s denial of future claims to him was a fraud.

Standard has fired back, filing a lawsuit to pre-empt threatened litigation by Berard, who told the Post: “I’m disabled. I have no vision in my right eye.”

Standard is asking the court to enforce the disputed document.

ICE CHIPS

Dany Heatley’s National Hockey League odyssey has now brought him to Anaheim. After low numbers with the Minnesota Wild, he has now hooked up with the Ducks on a one-year deal signed Wednesday. “I feel like I was kind of in a tough spot in Minnesota,” Heatley told reporters. “I feel I’ve got a lot to prove and a lot to give. I want to prove a lot of people wrong, and I’m very happy Anaheim has given me that chance.” ... The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Daniel Cleary to a one-year deal. His eight seasons in Detroit include its most recent Stanley Cup ... While losing defenceman Dan Boyle hurts the San Jose Sharks, they announced Thursday that UFA Scott Hannan was returning. The 35-year-old struck a one-year deal.